Is a fever of 99 normal?

Health

We all believe that a slight elevation in our body temperature means we are getting sick. And so for us, a body temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit is a cause of worry. After all isn't 98.6 degrees the normal body temperature? But experts believe that there could be a host of factors that may lead to this spike in temperature, besides illness. We spoke to experts and here are our findings.

Why 98.6?

Let's go back to when the average temperature of 98.6 was founded. Carl Reinhold August Wunderlick, a German physician arrived at the normal human body temperature in 1868. While the average was 98.6, he did note that body temperature can vary from person to person and also vary during different parts of the day - clearly stating that the temperature reading alone may not be of much significance unless it comes with a spectrum of symptoms.

98.6 is just an average

Dr Sharaang Sachdev, consultant and coordinator - emergency, Dharamshila Narayana Hospital says, "People think that fever is bad but it is body's normal response. Our temperature normally varies during the day. It is lowest in the morning and little higher during late afternoon. Hence, people in the working population shouldn't worry too much about 99 body temperature unless they have a severe infection or the body is showing other alarming symptoms."

It is important for us to know that 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is not an absolute figure. It is an average. Dr Sushila Kataria, director, Internal Medicine, Medanta - The Medcity explains, "Elderly people can have a normal body temperature below 98.6 and the working population can have a little higher temperature and yet be absolutely illness-free. However, if this temperature is accompanied with weight loss, loss of appetite and irregular ESR, then you definitely need to worry."
According to a Japanese study conducted in 2001, exercising, ovulation, pregnancy, stress and even eating can up your body temperature.

Method of measurement

How you measure body temperature also plays a vital role. Are you using oral thermometers, rectal or ear ones? Did you have something cold to drink before taking oral temperature? Were you breathing from your mouth while taking oral readings?

In children, a body temperature of 99.7 degrees F or higher measured using oral or armpit thermometer is considered fever. For adults too, it will be 99.7 degrees F. Rectal temperature, which is considered to be more accurate, has to map a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher to be considered fever among children and for adults, it will be 100.6 degrees F and higher.
While fever is your body's natural defense mechanism, if it is accompanied with below symptoms, you must call your doctor right away: